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Apple Learning Interchange
http://ali.apple.com

Jamin The Blues
http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/story.php?itemID=9723



Jammin’ the Blues

Intermediate/Middle School Music Lesson Idea

Project Overview

Students work in pairs at each computer, using GarageBand, a MIDI keyboard, and headphones. Using a 12-bar blues in C that the teacher has previously created in GarageBand, students take turns improvising melodies. They record one of their improvisations, doing a number of “takes” if they so desire.When they get a “performance” that they like, they save it to play back for the class.

Project Steps


  1. Prior to class, create a 12-bar blues progression in GarageBand (or download the one accompanying this lesson plan). Place this GarageBand file on the hard drive of each student computer, or make it accessible to students over a network.

  1. Instruct the students on the notes that comprise a C blues scale (C-Eb-F-F#-G-Bb-C), if this has not been done in a previous class. Have the students take turns practicing the scale on their MIDI keyboards.

  1. Working in pairs, have students take turns improvising melodies over the previously created GarageBand 12-bar blues.

  1. When each student is satisfied with his or her improvisation, the student should save it to play for the class during the GarageBand concert to take place during the next class meeting. It is important to use the Save As command and save the performance with a different name than the one that was used for the original blues accompaniment file. Prior to playing the improvisation for the class, the student pairs should describe any special attributes of their improvisation.



Extensions

You can post .AIFF files of the students’work on a website where parents and others can listen to them.

Outcomes

After completing this project, students will be able to:
  • Play a C blues scale (C-Eb-F-F#-G-Bb-C)

  • Improvise over a 12-bar blues progression

  • Listen to their classmates’ blues improvisations during a GarageBand concert



Sample Files

Duration: 2:24
Listen to the horns sample

Duration: 2:24
Listen to the sample


Technology Skills

After completing this project, students will be able to:
  • Use a MIDI keyboard to play a scale

  • Use GarageBand to create, record, save, and play improvisations



Assessment Suggestions

Students can be assessed on their description and performance of their recorded improvisations for the class. During the performance, students can evaluate each other’s improvisations. Students can also be assessed on their use of the C blues scale and provide other feedback (oral or written) on qualities of the improvisation.

Preparation and Duration

You can have the class do the following activities to prepare for doing this project:
  • Explore websites about the blues and improvisation

  • Listen to recordings of the blues

  • Practice the C blues scale on the music keyboard

  • Learn how to record MIDI sounds with GarageBand


This specific project can be completed in one class period, with the improvisation “concert” of students’works taking place in the following class.

Tools and Resources

Internet

Lees Summit Lesson Plans
http://hpe.leesummit.k12.mo.us/gforeman/teacherresources.htm









Tools

Macintosh computers, MIDI keyboards, two sets of headphones for each computer, at least one set of speakers to attach to a computer (for the concert), GarageBand, GarageBand Jam Pack (optional)

Prerequisite Skills

Before beginning this project, students should have the following skills:
  • Functional knowledge of the MIDI keyboard, including beginning abilities to play melodic ideas

  • Understanding of scales, and specifically the C blues scale

  • Ability to play GarageBand files and to record MIDI sounds with GarageBand


Soundtrack for My Life
http://www.readwritethink.org/beyondtheclassroom/summer/grades9_12/Autobiography/
Students could create their own music to describe stages in their lives..

Girl Listening to MP3 Player
Girl Listening to MP3 Player
For Ages 14–18
Soundtrack for My Life
Teens these days are accustomed to the combination of text, images, and music to express meaning. In this project, teens create autobiographies, adding music selections to their life stories. After brainstorming lists of important events in their lives, teens select music that represents those events. This is a great project for teens to work on together.

Time
Several hours (can be done over different days)

What You Need

Why This Is Helpful
This activity asks writers to combine words, images, and music—something teens are already familiar with, but may never have put all together in one project. It requires them to think about literacy in a different way.

Here’s What To Do
  1. Begin this project by having teens brainstorm up to 10 major events in their lives. They can work with others in a group or individually to build a list of any events that hold personal significance. Here are some possible suggestions:
    • First day of school (e.g., preschool, kindergarten, first grade, middle school, high school)
    • A special family trip or vacation
    • A family event or milestone
    • A personal achievement (e.g., first place in a competition)
    • A personal loss
  2. Next to each event, ask the teen to write a short description or related key words.
  3. Make sure each person has 5 index cards. Ask the teens to narrow down their list and select up to 5 events and record them on the index cards.
  4. Using those events, ask teens to think about the events described and to connect songs to these events. For example, someone might associate a love song with a family member’s wedding ceremony.
  5. Be sure to discuss lyrics with participants to assure that song selections are appropriate for all audiences. Emphasize that they should avoid using music that involves profanity or derogatory remarks towards any race, gender, sexual orientation and/or religious affiliation.
  6. Teens can write or type of the scenes from their lives, using their selected events and music. Encourage students to think of this information as similar to liner notes that might accompany a CD and provide background information on the songs.
  7. If desired, teens can burn their own CDs with their selected music on them. They can create their own CD covers using the CD/DVD Cover Creator. They can also add illustrations and pictures to help them share their life events.
  8. Alternately, students can also create playlists of the songs on MP3 players (e.g., iPods). For more information on how to use that online tool, visit the CD/DVD Cover Creator Tool Tip Sheet.
  9. Make time for teens to share their soundtracks with others.
More Ideas to Try
  • Teens can create PowerPoint presentations of their soundtracks by adding pictures and illustrations to the autobiographical events and music.
  • Use these resources to familiarize the teens with PowerPoint:
  • Once everyone is comfortable with PowerPoint and has practiced with the software, have them begin creating slides using their notecards as a first draft of the slides.
  • Share this adding sounds page, which details how to add portions of a song from a CD to a PowerPoint slide, with participants.
  • Have a showcase night where everyone presents their PowerPoint autobiographies to a group. Use a projector if one is available.
  • It is fun to turn these autobiographies into a story. Visit the Sample MultimodalAutobiography for more ideas.
Glossary
Autobiography
The fact-based account of a person’s life story, told by him- or herself.



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  6. Find The Sound- To help children in knowing the particular sounds of certain instruments.
  7. How to Blues- A month long unit.
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  25. Rhythm Rests Lesson- The students will feel the rests in the song by creating motions for the rests rather than singing.
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